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FOOD POISONING
Only 2 cases of food poisoning were notified,, both unrelated to one
another.
In one case in a boy of 12 years, who was admitted to hospital, Salmonella
typhi-murium was isolated following bacteriological investigation. Other members
of the family were not infected.
In the other single case the causal organism was not isolated.
DIPHTHERIA
There were no cases. The present level of immunisation is still below
what is aimed at, and every effort is made through propaganda and other means
to remind the public of the need for immunisation. Diphtheria is still about,
in fact in England and Wales during 1960, 52 cases were notified. It is only
by maintaining a high level of immunity that the population will be safeguarded
from the return of this dreaded disease.
DYSENTERY
Seventeen cases were notified compared with 11 in 1959 24 in 1958 and 9
in 1957. Bacteriological investigations carried out in respect of all the
notified cases, 2 of whom were admitted to hospital, revealed that 15 were
infected with Shigella sonnei. There were 4 small family outbreaks, in no way
related to one another, involving 11 of the total cases notified.
The remaining cases occurred singly in various parts of the Borough. In
2 cases formally notified as suffering from dysentery no causative agent was
identified on examination.
Every case of dysentery is followed up systematically, and the importance
of personal hygiene in preventing the spread of infection stressed at all
times. Dysentery is generally a mild illness but will spread rapidly in
nurseries and schools unless quickly checked.
POLIOMYELITIS
For the first time since 1943 no case of poliomyelitis was notified in
the Borough. In 1959 there was one case and in 1958 also there was only one
confirmed case, neither patient having been vaccinated against poliomyelitis.
This is a most satisfactory state of affairs and would suggest that vaccination
is proving effective in the control of this disease. A high proportion of
Wimbledon children have been vaccinated against poliomyelitis.
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